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Dignity House of Perth Hospice Website
Frequently
Asked Questions
How close is
Lanark County getting to have hospice and palliative
care services?
What is Day Hospice and will
we have one?
How to bring hospice and
palliative care to Lanark County
Financial assistance for compassionate
reasons?
Why is the Dahlia the logo for
Dignity House Hospice?
The Day Hospice opened its
doors at McMartin House on Monday January 17th 2011.
Carolina Retirement Suites, and donations from local
individuals and the Rotary Club of Perth allow us
to operate the Day Hospice every Monday from
10am to 3pm.
[Day Hospice Program]
The next phase of the
Dignity House Hospice Initiative is to purchase a
residential home suitable as a residential hospice.
A special committee has convened to look at a number of
houses on the market. A local businessman may be
interested in assisting with the purchase of a house.
The public will be advised as plans become official.
[Residential Hospice]
How can
I help bring residential and day hospice services to
Lanark County?
There are many ways
you can further our efforts to make professional
palliative and end of life care
available to the
clients of Lanark County. Here are a few
suggestions:
-
Donate
hand-crafted items
-
Have a dress down day at work
and donate proceeds
-
Donate
your time with one of our committees
to help with fund raising etc.
-
Invite
Dignity House Hospice to your work place to do a small
presentation and ask your work colleagues to make a small donation to
attend the presentation.
-
Donate a
percentage of your proceeds from a garage
sale.
-
Become a
champion for Dignity House and be our
corporate sponsor.
-
Have a
bake sale on your street and donate the
proceeds to Dignity House.
-
Encourage
family members to add Dignity
House to their list of charities each year.
-
Donate a
house to Dignity House.
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Make
Dignity House the recipient of funds raised
at an event.
-
Ask
friends and family to make donations to
Dignity House in the name of a loved one.
-
Share
your stories with us about how Hospice might
have made the end of life period of a loved
one more comfortable.
These are
just a few suggestions. The more we all
speak about the dignity of people at the end of
life, the more society will come to accept death
and accept the support and care that can be
found in hospice programs. Remember,
Dignity House of Perth is a registered charity. We do provide receipts for income tax purposes
for any gift / donation over $20.00 and/or as
requested.
3.
What is a Day Hospice and does Dignity House Hospice have one?
Yes we do! The Day Hospice
is a program that runs every Monday from
10am to 3 pm to provide supportive care for people
with life-limiting illnesses. Through the generosity
of the Carolina Retirement Suites, we have a
very accessible, comfortable space for this program. Referrals
can be made by anyone, although you my want to
consult with the family physician. Day Hospice
serves a
number of purposes: to relieve isolation and provide
support, to give primary caregivers a break, and to
provide alternative pain and symptom control through
complementary therapies.
Day Hospice is a friendly,
relaxed environment where clients find mutual
support among group participants, to share humour
and enjoy human contact with people with similar
experiences and understanding.
The Day Hospice is staffed by a
qualified nurse and group facilitator, and a team of
trained volunteers. Complementary therapists provide
massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, art therapy, pet
therapy and music therapy. A spiritual counselor
will be invited to visit Day Hospice on a regular
basis. Clients of any denomination are welcome to
attend. We will offer hand and nail
care, including manicures, by a fully trained
esthetician and a footcare nurse.
Clients’ symptoms will be monitored
while they attend Day Hospice. A complete, confidential chart will
be kept for each client attending the program.
While a variety of activities and
crafts will be available, clients can choose to sit
quietly and talk to fellow clients or read the
paper. We will eventually have a small library of books and
videos and DVDs. On occasion, and if the weather
allows, outings and entertainment will be arranged
once or twice per month. Clients’ interests and
suggestions will guide all activities planned.
In addition to snacks and drinks, a
light lunch will be served. Special diets will be
accommodated.
5.
Is there any financial assistance if I need to leave
work to care for a dying family member?
Yes, under the Canadian Government's Employment
Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits Program.
Who is eligible?
You may be paid up to a maximum of 6 weeks to provide
care or support to a gravely ill family member at risk
of dying within 26 weeks. Unemployed persons on EI can
also ask for this type of benefits.
You are eligible if:
•
your regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by
more than 40%; and
• you have accumulated 600 insured hours in the last 52
weeks or since the start of your last claim
There is a qualifying period.
Care or support are defined as:
•
providing psychological or emotional support, or
• arranging for care by a third party, or
• directly providing or participating in the care.
Sharing compassionate care benefits
You can share the 6 weeks compassionate care benefits
with other members of your family who must also apply
and be eligible for these benefits.
Medical proof is required
As proof, 2 forms must be submitted:
· The
"Authorization to Release a Medical Certificate" is
completed and signed by the gravely ill person or their
legal representative, and
· The "Medical certificate for Employment Insurance
Compassionate Care Benefits" is completed and signed by
the medical doctor of the gravely ill person to confirm
their significant risk of death within the 26 weeks.
How, where and when to apply
To receive compassionate care benefits you must submit
an EI application on-line or in person at your Service
Canada Centre. You should apply as soon as you stop
working.
You must request your Record(s) of Employment (ROE) from
your last employer as well as from any employer(s) you
worked for in the last 52 weeks. Submit your application
as soon as possible whether or not you have your ROE(s).
Use this link to get more information, and to apply for
compassionate benefits:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/ei/types/compassionate_care.shtml
Why is
a dahlia used on your website and as part of your logo?
The Dahlia is the symbol for
Dignity House Hospice because it represents:
Life! New flowers bloom
every spring;
Strength! Despite the
delicacy of its petals.
Most importantly it
represents DIGNITY!
"As a symbol, the dahlia
flower can offer a great deal of meaning. In general, they are thought to
symbolize dignity and elegance, but they are also thought to express an eternal
bond between two people."
(from
flowerinfo.org)
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